FAI Junior Cup, 5th Round 22nd January 2022-2023 Match Report
Howth Celtic 1 – 3 St Michael’s
Despite conceding an early goal Saints powered into the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup with a good win away in Dublin at Howth Celtic on Sunday afternoon. They had an uncharacteristic slow start and went a goal down in the fourth minute when after a Chris Higgins foul, Gary Honan found the top corner of the net from all of thirty yards, with a rocket of a free kick. But once they settled the TSDL side began to make some good chances and almost levelled the game in the nineteenth minute when David Slattery saw his header come back off the bar following a Jimmy Carr cross. Ed O’Dwyer fired wide minutes later, and Slattery was unlucky again just before the hour mark. The pressure finally paid off in the final minutes of the half, when the veteran centre half Paul Breen was on hand in the area to head home from a Joey Mulcahy corner kick, and send the teams to the break all square. Six minutes into the second period, the visitors had to survive a scare when a pass from DJ Cremins was intercepted by Niall Cullen who played in Gary Honan, but the strikers shot just went outside the post much to the relief of the travelling support. As the game opened up, both sides began to create chances, and it was the Saints who finally made it pay ten minutes from time when Jimmy Carr recycled a ball following a Joey Mulcahy free kick and his floated cross saw Paul Breen head home, for his and his sides second goal. Howth pressed forward over the last ten minutes, but the game was finally put to bed three minutes from time when substitute Adam McGrath latched on to a loose ball, and his finish from the edge of the area flew past the stranded home keeper.
Peake Villa 0 – 1 Killarney Celtic
Peake Villa faced their first game back after Christmas and after the loss of much loved member Paul Twomey, with a very difficult FAI Junior Cup tie against one of the favourites for the competition Killarney Celtic on Sunday, and came up just short after a good game at the Tower Grounds in Thurles. The game started at a frantic pace as both teams tried to put their stamp on the tie, and when they finally settled down, it turned into a very cagey affair with neither side wanting to make a mistake and hand the advantage to the other. The first real game changing incident came in the twenty fourth minute when the home side lost their talismanic striker and captain, Pippy Carroll who had to be replaced by Robbie Stapleton after picking up a knock. There was nothing between the sides coming to the break, but out of nowhere in the thirty ninth minute, a mistake in the home defence was capitalised on by Stephen McCarthy who made know mistake and scored to put the visitors a goal up. This set the Thurles side back, but just on the half time whistle they almost levelled the game when they were presented with a great chance after Jack Ryan Casey’s shot from the edge of the box seemed goal bound only for Shay O Meara in the Killarney goal to get down and turn it around the post to make a great save. The second period was all Villa, as they went at their Kerry opponents from the off, being on top so much, that Willie Tierney in the Villa goal, was no more than a spectator for the duration of the half. Mick Ryan had a good chance just before the hour mark, but it was saved well. They continued to press, but the Killarney defence was holding well until fourteen minutes from time, when Villa got a corner, and they hit the crossbar close in. Just a minute later, from another corner, Alan Leahy came close from a header. It looked like it wasn’t going to be Villa’s day, and that proved right as they pressed high up the pitch in the last ten minutes, but the elusive goal simply would not come, and they ended the game on the losing side for the first time all season. The long layoff after Christmas may have played a part in the performance, but they will have to get back on the horse quickly, when they face another difficult Cup game next weekend in Cork.
TSDL Premier League 22nd January 2022-2023 Match Report
Clonmel Town 3 – 0 Cashel Town
Clonmel Town kept their unbeaten league run going, and moved back to the top of the Premier League standings, thanks to a comfortable three nil victory at home to Cashel Town at the Dr Pat O’Callaghan sports complex last Sunday morning. If anything, were not for a brilliant goalkeeping display by Cashel custodian Gearoid Slattery the margin of victory could have been much more. It only took the home side five minutes to break the deadlock when Lee Costello finished off a wonderful team goal involving Rian Clancy, Jamie Ahearne and the wonderful Rhys O’Regan. Five minutes later Slattery pulled off the first of many great saves to deny Ashley Lasslett, but he was helpless when in the thirty sixth minute, the hosts made a devastating break from a corner which ended with the home side going the length of the field, before Rhys O’Regan was on hand at the near post to finish smartly from a Lee Costello cross. This left the home side two to the good at the break and in control of the game. To be fair to the visiting side, they started the second half the better side and Brian O’Dwyer and Kevin Keating both came close to cutting the deficit. However, Slattery then pulled off a string of unbelievable saves to deny Rhys O’ Regan, Craig Guiry and Alan O Donnell. But with just thirteen minutes left to play, the home side made sure there was going to be no comeback and added a third and decisive goal when Rian Clancy hit an absolute unstoppable shot from twenty-five yards out, into the top corner of the net. After this it was simply a case of running down the clock and preparing for bigger tests ahead, for a Clonmel side that will really fancy having a crack at winning this years Premier League title.
Tipperary Cup, 2nd Round, 22nd January 2022-2023 Match Report
Wilderness Rovers 1 – 1 Cahir Park (AET Cahir Park win on penalties)
Wilderness hosted in form Cahir Park on Sunday morning, with the First Division team feeling confident and looking forward to the chance to test themselves against Premier League opponents in anticipation of promotion at the end of this season. And they came through the test with flying colours despatching a good Rovers side after a long and very evenly matched game. The Wildies started positively, giving the visitors plenty to think about in the early part of the game. But they had to wait until the thirty second minute to finally get the opening goal, when Michael O Hara headed home a fantastic ball from Graham Kelly, leaving the keeper flat footed with his excellent effort. The away side had their chances as well after growing into the game following a tentative start, but their were no more goals between then and the half time break. The second half saw the First Division side up their game, and they began to dominate the ball in the middle of the pitch, pinning Rovers back time and again, and they were full value for their equaliser that came in the sixty second minute courtesy of a brilliant finish by Dylan Nugent. After that the game stated to lull as both sets of players found the soft ground taking a toll on the legs and the fitness levels, and this along with two very well drilled defensive units made sure there were to be no more goals before the end of regulation time. The additional twenty minutes were even harder to players trying to fashion chances, and in the end the game went to penalty kicks, where the The Park held their nerves the better and came out on top.
Two Mile Borris 3 – 0 Moyglass United
Going pretty well in mid table in the Premier League, Two Mile Borris started strong favourites to beat Third Division Moyglass United in the Tipperary Cup on Sunday morning at Newhill Park in Borris. And they did with relative ease, despite a decent showing from their lower division opponents. The home side started well and dominated possession throughout, before looking like they would open the scoring in the twentieth minute, but were denied by the Moyglass keeper who dived full stretch to keep out a Darren Ivors effort. In the end, it took something spectacular to finally beat the visiting keeper and that arrived just after the half hour mark when Eoin Sheridan picked up the ball just inside the Moyglass half, took it past a number of defenders and unleashed an unstoppable shot from all of thirty yards out, that almost took the net off the rigging. But the away side rallied and kept the game tight from there to the break, ensuring they would only go to half time a single goal in arrears. The second half followed the same pattern as the first with the home side creating the chances and added a second when the ever dangerous Jamie Lee put Loran O Toole in behind the away defence and he calmly slotted the ball to the net, in the sixty second minute. Minutes later Jack Hackett rattled the upright with a thunderous effort but the coup de grace was finally delivered ten minutes from time when Jamie Lee capped of a man of the match performance with a well taken individual effort.
Galbally United 5 – 3 Clonmel Town
In form Galbally United came from behind to knock out a Clonmel Town side who have been showing good form in recent weeks, to move smoothly into the latter stages of the Tipperary Cup, where they will be a match for most teams on their recent record. The game on Sunday was cagey, with both sides spending the early part of the game exchanging soft jabs as they tried to figure out the best way to angle their attacks. But eventually the game burst into life, and in the fifteenth minute Town’s Kevin Kirwan picked up a ball out on the wing, cut in and beat three defenders, before slamming the ball to the net for a stunning opener. This caused the game to open up, and both teams swapped half chances before Jordan Dineen finally made one count in the thirty second minute, firing home to level the game. But just three minutes later, after getting themselves back level, the home side were stunned by an excellent Keenan Kerton strike from distance that nestled in the net, and sent the visiting team to the break in front. But the open play continued into the second period and within ten minutes Ger Quinlan levelled the game with a strike from inside the box. Again, their joy barely lasted, as they were still in celebratory mood when Ben Smith lobbed the home keeper a minute later, to restore Clonmel Town’s lead. But Galbally were in no mood to be denied in this game and for the third time they hit back, nineteen minutes from time, and a John English free kick, deceived the keeper and went straight to the net. This seemed to knock the stuffing out of the visitors, and four minutes later the hosts finally took the lead for the first time when Ger Quinlan cut in and finished well to put his side in the driving seat. With Town now chasing the game, they left gaps at the back, and in the final minute, Jordan Dineen made sure of victory by finishing a wonderful pass from David Mc Grath
St Nicholas 1 – 2 Clonmel Celtic (AET)
A much-depleted St Nicholas side gave the Premier Division league leaders Clonmel Celtic a right fright at Danny O Dwyer Park on Sunday, forcing the visitors to go all the way through extra time before winning their place in the next round of this years Tipperary Cup. The game started with the away side on top as could have been expected, but they were denied again and again by a resolute Saints defence, who took the game to the break without any of the two keepers having to take the ball from the net. And things got even better for the underdogs five minutes into the second period, when they took the lead through the always dangerous Aaron Ryan Shiner who finished off a free kick by Declan O Riordan, to the delight of the watching supporters. This seemed to shock the top of the table side, and they were lucky to stay just a single goal in arrears as the home side dominated play and created some good chances that they will rue missing in the overall context of the game. Eventually Celtic re-organised and got themselves back into the game just after the hour mark when Seanie Hawkins cut in from the wing and blasted to the net. The game was very even after this as legs started to tire, and there were no more goals before the end of the game. Into extra time that same pattern emerged and the game looked destined to be decided on penalties, but Celtic got the winner late in extra time when they were awarded a penalty kick after a handball, and Philip Drohan made no mistake with the resulting kick, much to the relief of the Celtic contingent on the day.
Bansha Celtic 5 – 1 Cashel Town
After knocking out Cashel Town’s first team in the earlier round of this year’s Tipperary Cup, Bansha Celtic completed a double when they beat Cashel’s second team on Sunday to progress to the quarter final of this years competition. The game itself was played at the Astro turf pitch in Cahir Park, due to both teams home pitches being unplayable, and the quick surface really benefitted the Premier League side against a team struggling for form two divisions lower. That said it was nip and tuck for the first fifteen minutes of the game, until the hosts caught their opponents with a swift counter attack that was finished off by Patrick Dalton to give them a deserved lead. It remained this way for the rest of the half with neither team having any joy in the final third. In the second period, Celtic against started on the front foot and doubled their lead within a minute of the resumption when Eamon Quirke hot the net after a final solo effort. Five minutes later it was three as the Premier League side began to really flex their muscles, and Darren McGrath found space inside the box to finish calmly to the net. To their credit the away side continued to battle and pulled a goal back on the hour mark, through a fine strike by Murty Browne from the edge of the area. But with twenty minutes left, Bansha restored their three-goal advantage and made it four to one when Kevin Mullins headed home from Adam Hennessy’s corner. They rounded out the performance with a fifth minutes from time, thanks to an Eamon Quirke strike, and played out the final stages in comfort.
TSDL Second Division 22nd January 2022-2023 Match Report
Rosegreen Rangers 0 – 3 Cullen Lattin
Cullen Lattin continued their quiet run up the Division Two table on Sunday afternoon when they put three without reply past a Rosegreen team that has been showing some form themselves in recent games. After a frantic opening the away side took control of the game with two goals inside the first five minutes, the first coming with the first attack of the game when Thomas O Mahoney carried the ball from midfield and shot from the edge of the area, to the bottom corner of the net. Five minutes later, a shell-shocked Rangers side conceded a second when a long kick from the hands of the visiting keeper Darren Hueston was controlled by one of Cullens young guns Micheál Elligott and he rounded the home keeper and slotted home. After that the home team came into the game, often dominating the exchanges in the middle of the pitch, but never really fashioned a chance that looked like it would trouble Hueston in the Cullen goal. Fifteen minutes into the second period, the away side were awarded a free kick that was delivered well into the box, and Elligott rose well to head onto the cross bar, before Darragh O Brien volleyed home to wrap up the points.
TSDL Third Division 22nd January 2022-2023 Match Report
Powerstown 0 – 0 Tipperary Town
League leaders Powerstown surprisingly dropped points to Tipperary Town the weekend when they had a chance to really open a significant gap at the top of the Third Division table. Chances in the tie were few and far the between early on, with the poor underfoot conditions making it difficult for either side to string passes together. Conor McGrath came closest for the home side in the first half, when his shot direct from a corner kick appeared to cross the line but the play was waved on. After that a flurry of Powerstown corners caused chaos in the visitors box but somehow none of them found their way into the net and the teams went to the break level. In the second half, Darren Murphy was effective down the right for the home side, picking out his forwards regularly, but try as they might through a combination of excellent defending by the visitors, and some poor finishing, the league leaders simply could not find that vital goal that might have opened up the tie. In the end they had to be content with a scoreless draw, and will be hoping that this result will be just a blip on their title and promotion charge come the end of the season.
Bansha Celtic 2 – 4 Donohill and District
A six goal thriller in Bansha saw Donohill get back to winning ways on Sunday afternoon in the Third Division. The away side started the brighter team putting the home defence under a lot of pressure, but the Celtic backline was up to the task until the twentieth minute, when Donohill turned over a ball in the middle of the pitch and found Liam Crosse who made no mistake from the edge of the area. This seemed to wake the hosts from their torpor, and they took control of the centre of the pitch, creating a number of chances before fashionisg an equaliser ten minutes before the break when Alan Carter found David Ronan in space, and he took forced the keeper into an excellent save. However, to the keepers misfortune, he only palmed the ball into the path of Adam Hennessy who was on hand to slot home from six yards out. There were no more goals in the first period and Donohill came out in the second half the stronger, retaking the lead ten minutes in, when Michael Bradshaw from the edge of the area. Bansha continued to battle and levelled the game for the second time midway through the half, when a ball was played out defence, right through the middle and ended up at the feet of Adam Hennessy who calmly slotted home to make it two all. But that was to be the highpoint in the game for the hosts. The visitors were in no mood to be denied and took the advantage for the third time ten minutes from the end when a super strike from all of twenty five yards out by Paudie Bradshaw gave the home keeper no chance. With Bansha now forced to chase the game in the final minutes, they left gaps at the back, and these were exploited by the visitors, who made sure of all three points with a goal late in the game by Sean Ryan who was played in behind a very open defence, and he made no mistake when he found himself one on one with the home keeper.
Peter O Reilly Cup, 1st Round, 22nd January 2022-2023 Match Report
Kilsheelan United 2 – 0 Cahir Park
After a long layoff Kilsheelan got back into the groove with a win in the Peter O Reilly Cup against Cahir Park, in a game that had been called off a number of times in recent weeks. The home side started well and had an excellent chance early in the game through Billy O’Connor but the visitors managed to scramble the ball clear. But it was only putting off the inevitable as United made their next major chance count and opened the scoring in the twelfth minute. A great ball down the right-wing from Aaron Larkin found Cian Roche, and Cian’s perfect cross found the head of Cathal De Faoite who’s header looped over the Cahir keeper to open the scoring. Buoyed by this, they kept the pressure on and doubled the lead just before the half hour mark when Nathan Dolan headed home from a Ruairi Doyle long-throw. Two goals to the good, the hosts were in complete control and kept that lead through half time and into the second period. The second-half was a much quieter affair, with both side battling to get what night have been a crucial next goal. Billy O’Connor and Cathal De Faoite both came close on the hour mark, but were unable to get their shots on target, and when Kilsheelan introduced fresher legs from the bench they were able to see out the remainder of the game in relative ease, moving smoothly into the next round of the competition.
TSDL Youths 22nd January 2023
FAI Under 17 Cup, 4th Round
Clonmel Celtic 1 – 2 Evergreen (Kilk)
Clonmel Celtic U17’s battled until the very end on Saturday afternoon against illustrious opponents Evergreen of Kilkenny, but ultimately it was in vain as they went down by two goals to one, after a well supported and well contested game at the bypass in Clonmel. Despite a good start by the Tipperary team, a defensive error saw Eric Kouffre put the Kilkenny side ahead in the tenth minute. Celtic battled back but couldn’t create any clear cut opportunities and were still behind by that single goal going to the half time break. Ten minutes into the second period, the always impressive Kouffre added a second to put the visitors two ahead from a rebound after a fine save from Peter Boland. The hosts kept going and were rewarded when Jamie Brunnock scored with twenty minutes remaining. They tried hard to get an equaliser, and Jack Aylward came close with a header late on but the visitors held on in the end to progress.
Munster Youths Cup 4th Round
Middleton 2 – 0 Clonmel Town
Clonmel Town’s adventure in the Munster Youth Cup came to an end in Middleton last Sunday afternoon but not until after a wonderful display where they died with their boots on and can consider themselves extremely unlucky not to come away with a win. Two goals in the eightieth and eighty fourth minute, from Daniel Bagnell was the difference between the two sides and saw the Cork side advance to the last eight. The game was played on a very heavy pitch, which made good football almost impossible but credit to both sides who provided a great ninety minutes entertainment where the first goal was always going to be crucial. Town were desperately unlucky not to open the scoring when Monsur Emiabata got on the end of a wonderful through ball from Cillian Fahey and his shot beat Jack Mills but his shot came back off the inside of the post. The impressive Evan Bolster was causing the visitors defence a few problems but on every occasion John O’Connell and Harry Ryan cleared the danger and as a unit, the Town team along with goalkeeper Oisin Martin got to half time with their goal intact. In the second half Darragh Cronin saw a great shot hit the foot of the post as the end to end action continued. Billy Woods then twice hit the Town crossbar. The Tipperary side then lost the services of the influential Joey Browne to a nasty head injury, but they looked to have secured the vital first goal sixteen minutes from time, when John Buckley’s shot was intercepted at the last second by Middleton defender Colm Riordan and the ball went agonisingly the wrong side of the post. Two minutes later a Ronan Walsh free kick was saved superbly by Mills, and from the resultant corner Cillian Fahey saw his shot just go inches over the crossbar. These near misses proved costly when the game entered the final ten minutes, and the Cork side made the breakthrough when Bagnell rose highest to head home an Evan Bolster corner. Four minutes later he was on hand again to finish off an excellent breakaway goal for the home side and with it ended Towns dream of a fourth Munster Youth Cup title.
TSDL Youths Division Two Cup semi finals
Shanbally United 2 – 1 Mullinahone
This was keenly contested game played in misty conditions at Scart, and the home side got off to the better start creating some good chances through Daire English and Ryan Breedy, but bad finishing and good defending on the side of the visitors, meant the game stayed level until the twenty fifth minute, when English went on a jinking run into the box but was tripped by the defender, to earn his side a penalty kick. Jessie Kiely stepped up and fired home to put the home side in front, a lead they took to the break. The second half was a real battle, as the visitors opened up a lot more in search of an equaliser, and they got it when Adam Doyle to popped up to finish off a good move midway through the half. It was nip and tuck from there on, and looked like the game was heading for extra time, until five minutes from the end, the hosts Ryan Breedy turned his marking defender and curled an exquisite side into the far corner of the net and win the game and a place in this seasons final.
Cashel Town 8 – 2 Cahir Park
In the other semi final a dominant first half performance by Cashel Town, who were at home to Cahir Park, helped them book their place in the final. Completely on top, the hosts were six goals to one ahead by the break, and although the second half was a tamer affair they still managed to add another two goals, one a brilliant strike by Callum Butler Burke to ease their way past their opponents.
Munster Junior Cup 4th Round 2022-2023 Match Report
Two Mile Borris 2 – 3 Charleville (Cork)
Two Mile Borris’ Munster Junior Cup journey came to an end at Newhill Park on Sunday when they fell to Cork side Charleville FC, and they will feel that they left the game behind them after a very good performance that ultimately fell just short in front of their large band of supporters. The TSDL side started well and made all the early running, but couldn’t carve out a clear enough chance to get the goal their build up play deserved. And they were punished for not making that domination count ten minutes before the break, when a long ball out of the Charleville defence caused a mix up in the home sides back line, and a ball was knocked past the keeper by one of his own defenders to give the away side an unlikely lead courtesy of an own goal. This was how the game went to the break, and the second half continued to follow the same pattern as the first, with Borris having the greater possession but being unable to make it count. Eventually the visitors started to make chances of their own and they doubled the lead just after the hour mark when the always dangerous Shane Dillon beat two defenders and fired home from the edge of the box to double his sides lead. But it took only five minutes for the hosts to finally claw a goal back when Micheal Foley skinned the visitors back line before finding Martin Darmody in the centre of the area and he made no mistakes from ten yards out. Five minutes later it looked like Darmody had got the leveller but he inexplicably managed to put the ball over the crossbar when it looked easier to score. And the away side compounded that misery when ten minutes from time a quick counter attack forced a penalty kick from Borris, and Dillon added his second and his sides third from the penalty spot. But again the home side hit back, and almost from the kick off brought it back to a single goal deficit when Jamie Lee found the net from the edge of the area. This set up a grandstand finish with the home side bombarding the Charleville goalmouth, but the Cork side stood strong and managed to keep them out, causing heartbreak for the Tipperary side.
